Knockdown store furniture



June 10, 1958 R, CROWTHER 2,838,355

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ATTORNEYS United States Patent KNOCKDOWN STORE FURNITURE Richard L. Crowther, Denver, Colo.

Application March 9, 1954, Serial No. 414,952

l 1 claim. (ci. 31e- 257) This invention relates to knockdown store furniture, and has for its primary object to provide furniture having components which are capable of being rapidly erected to provide bins, shelves, and showcases at selected heights.

Another object of the invention is to provide in such furniture, illuminated bin structure and silhouette symbols carried adjacent the top and the front thereof.

A further object is to provide in such furniture, adjustable support of a shelf above the bin which can be disposed in a selected position between the front and the back of the structure.

A still further object is to provide furniture of the character indicated above having levelling means erection and dismantling of the xture while at the same time enabling it to be leveled irrespective of slightirregularities in the floor upon which it is erected.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein, for purposes of illustration only, specific forms of the invention are set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of an article of store furniture embodying the features of this invention;`

FigureV 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional View taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 s a fragmentary and contracted perspective View of one of the frames;

Figure 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view through the rear component of one of the frames;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through a lower corner of a frame, showing levelling means therefor;

Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of one of the shelf brackets, showing a portion of an associated shelf in section, and means by which the bracket is connected to an adjacent frame unit;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective View of an upper `display plate and an associated partition panel;

Referring to the drawings in detail, the device illustrated in Figures l to 12 comprises two or more open vertical rectangular frames 10, each comprising spaced vertical front and rear members 12 and 14, respectively, ywhich are joinedr at their upper ends by a horizontal top member 16 and at their lower ends by a horizontal bottom member 18. In the preferred form of the invention the vertical members 12 and 14 are of hollow or tubular form and are rectangular in cross section. Secured within the lower ends of the vertical members 12 and 14 are a vertically extending screw-threaded sleeve 20 into whose lower ends are threaded stems 22 carrying feet 24 arranged to rest upon a surface, such as a oor. Obviously, by turning 'the stems 22 the frame 10 can vbe levelled. Formed in the sidewalls of the members 12 and 14 are vertical rows of ,spaced holes 26, and opening through the top of the top bar 16 are longitudinally spaced pairs of holes 28. Fixed on the rear side of the rear member 14 is a vertical, rearwardly facing channel 30 having spa-ced parallel side ilanges 32. On the rear edges of the llanges 32 are lateral flanges 54 which terminate at their laterally outward free edges in short, forwardly directed retaining anges 86. Fixed to and extending forwardly from the lateral flanges 34 are studs 38 on which are threaded wing nuts 40.

Supported for vertical adjustment on and between two adjacent frames 10 by bolts 42 and wing nuts 44, with the bolts extending through holes 26 in the front and rear frame members 12 and 14 is a horizontal display panel 46 which comprises a rectangular plate 1S-having a width equal to the depth of the frames and a length in the upper side ofthe plate 48 and extending longitudinally thereof are transversely spaced longitudinal grooves 56, the purpose of which is hereinafter described.

Mounted on the rear side of the cornice plate 54 adjacent opposite ends thereof are oppositely disposed sockets 58 of a conventional tubular fluorescent lamp 60 by which the contents of a compartment or space between l the frames may be illuminated.

Detachably secured to the front sides of the lateral flanges 34 of the frames 10 by the studs 38 and their wing nuts 40 are back panels 62, which enclose the rear of the space between the two adjacent frames 10 and stiften these frames and prevent rocking thereof. .in certain instances, in place of the back panel 62, crossed diagonal brace bars 64 carrying adjacent their opposite ends eyes 66, and the eyes 66 are engaged on the studs 38 and are clamped against the lateral flanges 34 by means of the wing nuts 40, as will be readily understood upon reference to Figure 14.

With the back panel 62 secured to and extending between a pair of frames 10 and the display panel 46 disposed at a selected height on the frames, a bin is defined between the frames below the panel 46 and in front of the back panel 62 in which merchandise may be displayed. When merchandise such as clothing is to be suspended in the bin, above described, brackets 68 are secured at selected heights on the frames 10 by means of hooks 70 which are coupled to the brackets 68 by suitable straps 72, hooks 70 being engaged in selected holes of the rows of openings 26. Each hook 70 has a lower leg 74 which is adapted to enter an opening 26 immediately below the yPrrftentetl June l0, 1,958l

opening through which the hook 70 is engaged. It will v thus be seen that the brackets 68 are supported by the hooks 70 on the frames 10 so as to extend across the respective frame units. Formed in the center of the upper edge 69 of each bracket 68` substantiallyV midway between opposite ends thereof is a'notch 76 which receives a suspension bar 78v (Figures 3 and 4') upon which garment hangers can be suspendedwithin the bin. Each bracket 68 is provided with a groove 80m the side thereof adjacent the connecting strip 72 andin the upper edge 69 for the reception of a stop member 82 depending from a shelf 84 which is adapted to rest on` a pair of brackets 68 and hold the shelf 84 in place.

A vertical longitudinalpartition panel 86 of a length substantially equal to the plate 48V is provided on its end edges with longitudinally extending hooks 88 which are adapted to engage in the holes 28 in the top bar 16 of an adjacent frame so as to hold the panel 86 in position in a selected one of the grooves 56.

The partition panel 86 is illuminated by the fluorescent tube 60. TheV cleats 50 are provided with notches 90 which open through their bottom edges adjacent the front members 12 of the frames to accommodate electrical conductors leading to the lamp 60.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figure 1l, the cleats 50, instead of the front cornice plate 54, are provided with a front cornice member 92 which is supported onthe front ends of the cleats S and includes a lower downwardly and rearwardly declining portion 94 on which are mounted the lamp tube supporting sockets 58 in which the uorescent tube 60-is mounted. As illustrated, the lower portion 94 extends downwardly and rearwardly while the upper portion 96 extends upwardly and rearwardly and' is provided in its upper edge with a longitudinal groove 98 for the reception of legs 100 on the lower ends of symbols 102, which, as illustrated, project above the upper surface of the plate 48 so that when the upper panel 86 is illuminated by light passing upwardly and rearwardly from the tube 60, the symbols 102 will appear as being silhouetted against an illuminated background.

In the further modification illustrated in Figure 12, the plate 4S of the panel 46 has secured thereupon a plate 104 which projects forwardly beyond the forward edge of the plate 48 and carries horizontally disposed vertically spaced channels 106 and 108 in which is removably supported` atransparent panel 110` carrying. on its surface symbols 112. The lamp tube 114 is supported in sockets 116 secured to the underside of the plate 48. When the lamp is illuminated, the symbols 112 appear silhouetted against the field of the panel 110. Obviously, if so desired, the panel may be dark or opaque if desired and the symbol 112V carried thereby may be transparent, according to the desires of the user.

While in the foregoingv there have been shown and described preferred embodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed'.

What is claimed is:

ln knockdown store furniture, two laterally spaced vertical open frames having front and rear vertical members, vertically extending hook anges on and projecting laterally inwardly from said rear vertical members, said hook anges terminating in forwardly directed vertical flanges, said hook flanges having front and rear sides, a back panel extending between said rear frame members at the front sides of said hook anges, said panel having a rear side and a front side,` the rear side of the panel being provided with vertical grooves receiving the vertical flanges of the hook flanges, and bolts xed in the hook anges and projecting forwardly therefrom and traversing the back panel and securing the back panel in place.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 726,053 Harrison Apr. 2l, 1903 1,683,525 Burandt Sept. 4, 1928 2,106,839 Gilbert Feb. l, 1938 2,306,385 Herter Dec. 29, 1942 2,464,470 Vanderveld Mar. 15, 1949 2,480,637 Dimling Aug. 30, 1949 2,569,130 Katsetos Sept.' 25, 1951 2,583,931 Cummings Jan. 29, 1952 2,626,198 Vanderveld Jan. 30, 1953 2,631,913 Rosenberg Mar. 17, 1953 2,710,241 Lieberman June 7, 1955 

